Ellery stowell



(No Model.)

B. STOWELL. DEVIOB FOR HOLDING, DAMPENING, AND APFIXIN-G STAMPS ORLABELS. No. 427,528. Patented May 6, 1890.

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struction and combination of UNITED STATES FFICE.

PATENT ELLERY STOVVELL, OF DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO EMERY IVALTER JOHNSON, OF SAME PLACE.

DEVICE FOR HOLDING, DAMPENING, AND AFFIXING STAMPS 0R LABELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 427,528, dated May 6, 1890.

Application filed December 23, 1889. Serial No. 334,612. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ELLERY STowELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Denver, in the county of Arapahoe and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Holding, Dampening, and Affixing Stamps or Labels; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains' to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

"My invention relates to an improved condevices for holding, dampening, and affixing in position upon another surface stamps or labels; and

its objects are to still further improve the de-, vice described and shown in my former application for Letters Patent filed October 1, 1888, and allowed November 2, 1889, Serial No. 286,878. To this end I shall show and describe the entire device in its present improved form and claim what I consider the new features or the improvements over my original invention.

In the drawings is illustrated an embodiment of my improvement, in which Figure 1 is a vertical section of the device, taken on the line C D, Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line A B, Figs. 1 and 3. Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken 011 the line at 23, Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is an underneath view of the bottom of the stamp box or holder. Fig. 5 is an underneath view of the face-plate secured to the bottom of the plunger. Hereinafter the word stamp will be used as typical of and including any form of stamp or label to be affixed to another surface.

In the drawings, the reference-numeral1 indicates the stamp box or holder for C011".

taining the supply of stamps. Upon two or more of its upper edges it is provided with the outwardly-extending flanges 2, while at two opposite lower edges it is provided with the interiorly=projecting flanges 3 3, upon which are supported and by which the stamps to be used are retained within the holder. This holder 1 is then, as shown, open entirely at the top, and open at the bottom except in so far as it is closed by the flanges or ledges 3 3, which are just sufficient for the stamps to rest upon at either their ends or their sides and be thereby retained normally within the holder.

4, represents the plunger, preferably a metallic tube, upon the lower portion of which the stamp box or holder 1 reciprocates, the plunger taking upon the supply of stamps and forcing one to contact with the surface to which the stamp is to be applied, so that it may be ejected or withdrawn from the holder. This part 5 of the plunger is provided with a filling 6 of some suitable material, preferably wood, projectii'ig a short distance below the bottom thereof, its edges or corners opposite or directly above the flanges 3 being cut away or rounded slightly, in order that the block or filling 6 may not engage the flanges 3 and interfere with the face-plate in the proper performance of its function.

To the lower surface of the block or filling 6 is secured the face-plate 7, formed of any suitable material, preferably leather. The interior of plate 7 is cut away at 8, leaving a narrow outer rim,9 projecting somewhat lower than the interior. The object of this faceplate is to force the stamp to its seat upon the surface to which it is to be attached, its projecting rim at the same time pressing the outer edge thereof tightly and firmly against such surface, while the pressure upon the interior portion of the stamp is comparatively little. This form of face-plate for the plunger is deemed preferable, yet I do not wish to limit myself to the exact relative proportions shown between the projecting rim 9 and the outer part 8, my claim being for a faceplate the outer edges of which will cause the pressure upon the stamp to be applied to the portion of the stamp remote, so to speak, from its center.

Plate 7 is secured to block 6 in any suitable manner. A recess or small chamber 10 is cut in block 6, said recess opening on the under side of the block, this opening, however, be-

ing covered with the face-plate 7, which is provided with a small aperture in its central part, through which passes a small weight 11. The weight is free to move up and down within the plate 7, its upper portion being provided with a pin 12 or its equivalent to prevent the weight from passing entirely through the plate 7. The length of the weight 11 from the under side of the pin 12 to its lower extremity is preferably a very little less than the perpendicular distance from the bottom of the filling 6 to the plane of the upper sides of the flanges 3 3, so that when there are but few stamps in the holder 1 they may not be forced therefrom by the weight 11. The lower end of this weight is, however, generally in contact with the upper stamp within the box, and at all times serves to keep the stamps in proper position and prevents them from adhering to the faceplate '7 as the plunger rises and from curling or warping. As the plunger descends, the weight recedes into the recess 10, which is of sufficient size to receive it.

Instead of using a separate plate 7 the bottom of filling 6 or the lower end of the plunger may be fashioned to correspond with the shape of the face-plate, and thus made to perform the same or a similar function.

Secured to and within the upper portion of the device, being above the stamp box or holder, is an atomizing or spraying apparatus of any approved construction. Such apparatus is herein typified by the fluid-receptacle 13, air-bulb 17, air-tube 15, and deliverytube 18. This spraying apparatus is operated by pressing upon the air-bulb, whereby a jet of spray is carried down so far that its outlet shall deliver the spray or atoms of the moistening-fluidused,underneaththestamp-holder. This fluid-receptacle rests on block 6 and sits within the upper walls of the plunger. Tube 18 is flexible or partially rigid and partially flexible and extends from the mouth of the liquid-reservoir downward on the outside of the plunger to the lower edge of the stampbox, where it connects with a metallic mouthdiece 19, secured to the outside of the stampbox. Through this mouth-piece the liquid is sprayed upon the surface to which it is desired to affix the stamp or upon the gummed surface of the stamp itself, as may be desired.

Suitably fitted within a slot of flange 2 of the stamp-box is asmall rod 20, provided with a coiled spring 21. The lower extremity of this red is provided with abutton or enlargement 22, which normally is in contact with the under surface of flange 2. The opposite extremity of the rod is rigidly secured to the exterior of the upper part of the plunger or to theinterior of the hollow handle 25, hereinafter described. Spring 21 is coiled around rod 20, its lower extremity taking upon a sliding button 23 and adapted to have a free vertical movement upon the rod. WVhen the stamp-box is in operative position, button 23 is always in contact with the under surface of flange 2. The opposite extremity of the spring takes upon a button, enlargement, or stop 24L,-rigidly secured to the upper part of the rod.

Surrounding and incasing the upper portion of the device is the spherical or globular hand-piece or handle 25, which is secured to the exterior of the plunger in any convenient manner. The lower edge of the hand-piece is provided, preferably, with a flange 26, through which the spraying-tube of the atomizer, and also the rod 20 with its spring, may pass. The aperture in the flange 26, through which rod 20 with its spring passes, is large enough so that it does not interfere with the action of the spring upon the rod.

Hand-piece 25 is provided with an opening through which protrudes a portion of the airbulb, enough thereof being exposed to allow it to be easily pressed when part 25 is grasped in the hand. It is divided, preferably, horizontally, as at 14, to allow the removal of one segment, so that the liquid-reservoir and spraying apparatus may be entirely disconnected from the other portions of the device, as occasion may require. This hand-piece or handle, though shown spherical in shape, may be of any other desired contour. The spherical or globular form, however, is preferred to any other, since it is believed to afford greater ease in grasping and manipulating the device. The upper portion of handle 25 may be made to screw upon the lower portion or to slip thereon, as may be desired.

This handle may be attached to the plunger, or it may be integral therewith, forming its upper portion. In the latter-case the handle would simply be a continuation of the plunger, with such a change of contour as to adapt it to be easily held and used by the hand.

In the use of the device the stamp box or holder is removed by springing the rod 20 out of the slot in the flange of the box, the stamps being then placed in the box or holder with their blank or reverse sides toward the bottom of the box or holder, the box or holder being then replaced in operative position by snapping the rod 20 into the slot in the flange '2.

When it is desired to affix a stamp at any point, the device is firmly grasped in the hand and held over such point or place and the air-bulb 17 pressed inward, causing the delivery rice the tube 18 of the dampeningfluid either upon such place or upon the stamp. The plunger is then forced down within the stamp-box and upon the desired place, with the result that a stamp is placed upon the dampened surface. As the plunger is forced downward, the lower portion of rod 20 slips through and beneath the flange 2, thereby compressing the spring 21 above the flange; hence as soon as the force which drives the plunger downward ceases to act the plunger, together with its attachments, returns by virtue of this spring to their original position. As the plunger is forced downward, the weight 11 rises in the recess or chamber IIO 10 of block 6. On the other hand, as the plunger rises the weight slips through the face-plate, its lower extremity remaining on top of the stamps, its weight being sut'ficient to prevent the uppermost stamp in the box from adhering to the faceplate 6.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is-- 1. The combination, in a device for affixing stamps, of a stamp box or holder, a plunger working therein, a reservoir forcontaining the dampening-liquid, said reservoir being located within the plunger, and means for forcing such liquid upon the stamp or upon the surface to which itis to be attached, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a stamp box or holder having interior ledges at the bottom and an exterior flange at the top, a plunger having its lower portion filled with a block (3, a rod 20, connecting the flange of the stamp-box with the upper part of the plunger, said rod being provided with a spring 21, and an atomizer having the liquid-reservoir located within the plunger, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a stamp box or holder, a hollow plunger adapted to work therein, the

lower portion of the plunger being filled with a block 6, provided with a recess 10, and a weight 11, movably secured to the bottom of the plunger and resting upon the stamps in the box, rising within recess 10 as the plunger descends and again entering the stampbox as the plunger rises, substantially as de scribed.

4. The combination, in a device for affixing stamps, of a stamp box or holder, a plunger suitably secured thereto, the plunger being provided with a block 6, fitting within its lower portion, a face-plate secured to the bottom of block 6, the interior thereof being cut away, leaving a projecting exterior portion or rim, a reservoir for containing the dampening-liquid, said reservoir being located within the plunger, and means for forcing such liquid upon the stamp or upon the surface to which it is to be attached, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ELLERY STOWVELL.

Witnesses:

A. W. I-IILLE, WM. MoCoNNELL. 

